Wednesday, November 26, 2014

And So It Begins

We had a nice visit to Edmonton to see family and friends and do some business for our company last week.  We have a November Christmas dinner in our favorite Vietnamese restaurant with the boys (19, 21 and 22) and visited Baba who loved getting a copy of hubby's book and our family picture calendar.




I took this picture Saturday as we were at the airport waiting for our flight home.  Edmonton Airport regularly gets large amounts of snow.  It was barely snowing and there was no less than six snow removal vehicles zooming around on the ground.  I was pretty impressed.  It is so nice to come home to some sunshine and green grass, although there is talk of snow here on Sunday.  It would be unusual as we normally only get two or three snows per year and they usually fall around Christmas.  I bought a second snow shovel at Costco yesterday in anticipation-you must shovel the snow quickly or due to the high water content it quickly turns to cement and you will not be able to leave your house.  In Alberta we had light fluffy dry snow, easily moved by snow blowers - not possible here.


I normally have the entire house decorated by now - but life has been pretty busy lately and it just hasn't happened.  Sunday I threw the wreath on the door and yesterday I hauled all the Christmas bins up.  My house is a complete mess right now by by the end of today the interior will be done (*with some help from my Stepdaughter and a bit of Captain Morgans spiced rum and eggnog) and the empty bins put back in the crawl space. Tomorrow will then be cleaning day - everything will get a good scrubbing, dusting and vacuuming until New Years day when it all comes down and I do another major clean. 

I found these 4 spotless placemats yesterday at the thrift store for .75 cents each - $3 for the bunch.  I have been looking for some nice Christmassy ones and these fit the bill.  I did go thrifting in Alberta with my friend but bought nothing - prices are twice what they are in our thrift stores (that or I am just getting too cheap, could be that too :))


I used some of my amazon Gift certificates from Swagbucks for a gift for myself this year.  A Christmas Carol (specifically this 1950s version) has always been my favorite Christmas movie.  They used to have it on TV every Christmas Eve but last year they did not show it.  I wanted to make sure to have a copy so ordered it along with a stocking stuffer for my Stepdaughter so I didn't have to pay shipping.  


For all my American friends  - Happy Thanksgiving and to everyone else - have a great week!

14 comments:

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    1. He is! Even my 17 year old Stepdaughter likes this version.

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  2. Before we discovered Powell River we used to take a "cold" winter vacation each year. One New Years we went to Edmonton. I remember all the news channels warning about getting drunk and passing out outdoors, possibly a fatal experience. Now we take a warm sunny vacation in the winter, even though Powell River doesn't get all that cold. - Margy

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    1. Edmonton is one of those ridiculously cold cities. I heard of a nearby area that was receiving -40 degree temperatures (LLoydminster on border of Alberta and Saskatchewan) this past weekend. Dangerously low temps.

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  3. I could happily do without any snow.
    Jane x

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    1. Jane, you guys really have to visit Vancouver Island. We are the most moderate climate in North America - not too hot, not too cold! And if you ever did miss snow 45 minutes from my house is a real ski hill that gets snow mid Dec to Mid Feb. That will never happen to me though :)

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  4. The airport looks so bleak! I don't envy you that snow. x

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    1. Fortunately we were leaving, not living there. Our home now looks much like your country with mostly rain in winter with a rare snow or two. I am so thankful every time we fly home that we get to live here on Vancouver Island.

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  5. I know you feel as if you are behind but I think you have it all under control. And the alcohol always helps just keep it coming and it will all work out or you will fall over but still keep drinking.

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    1. Yes, magically it all tends to sort itself out. Nothing that a good glass of cider won't cure!

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  6. I'm so thankful we don't have snow. Today (11/30), it's supposed to reach 72 degrees. Much better than it was last year (so far).

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    1. People who have moved away from the snow belts usually don't miss it - you and I are like-minded that way :)

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  7. We have had major snow twice already but today it was +13c and is all gone once again. My brother and I always looked forward to watching A Christmas Carol on TV every year - I still love it. My daughter's favourite is A Christmas Story about the Red Ryder BB gun. I found a copy at Walmart for $4 so snatched it up! It's the little things...

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    1. Wow, it warmed right up! I have never seen A Christmas Story although A Christmas Story 2 is on Netflix. I shall have to watch for it.

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